DeFunis v. Odegaard

Facts of the case

DeFunis was denied admission to the University of Washington Law School despite test scores that were higher than some of the minorities admitted. DeFunis then successfully asked a trial court to require the school to admit him. On appeal, the Washington Supreme Court reversed, upholding the school's decision to deny DeFunis admission. The U.S. Supreme Court considered the case as DeFunis was entering his final year of school.

Question

Was the case in question moot and therefore outside the scope of judicial review?

Conclusion

In a 5-4 per curiam opinion, the Court held that because the University of Washington Law School had agreed to allow DeFunis to enroll and earn a diploma, the case in question was moot. DeFunis would be able to complete his legal studies irrespective of any Supreme Court decision. The controversy between parties had thus "clearly ceased to be 'definite and concrete' and no longer 'touch[ed] the legal relations of parties having adverse legal interests.'"

Supreme Court of the United States

416 U.S. 312, 40 L. Ed. 2d 164, 94 S. Ct. 1704, 1974 U.S. LEXIS 128, SCDB 1973-092

No. 73-235

1974-04-23

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